Fantasy sports manager for various devices

ABSTRACT

A fantasy sports management system includes a wireless transceiver and a processor. the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate sports-related information to a mobile device that includes a fantasy sports management application. The processor is in communication with the wireless transceiver. Real-time sports information is received from the fantasy sports management application on the mobile device. An input is received requesting the fantasy sports management application to suggest a starter for a roster of the mobile device user. Roster information is received relating to the user and other users&#39; fantasy sports teams. A determination is made regarding whether the rosters of the user and the other users are substantially similar. If they are, a suggestion of changing the user&#39;s roster is made and sent so that the user has the ability to change his roster to more aligned with the roster of the other users.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The illustrative embodiments generally relate to a fantasy sportsmanagement tool and its interaction with electronic devices.

BACKGROUND

Fantasy sports, such as fantasy football, have been known for over adecade. In fantasy sports, users select one or more athletes to be apart of the user's roster, and real-time statistics are tracked andpoints corresponding to the real-time statistics are awarded to theuser. Fantasy sports can be managed by an internet-based interface inwhich the statistics and corresponding points are monitored and awardedby a server. Users can access this information via the internet.

SUMMARY

A first illustrative embodiment generally discloses a fantasy sportsmanagement system on a server comprising a processor and a wirelesstransceiver. The server configured to communicate sports-relatedinformation to a mobile device that includes a fantasy sports managementapplication. The processor is in communication with the wirelesstransceiver and configured to receive real-time sports informationrelated to the fantasy sports management application on the mobiledevice. The processor is further configured to receive input requestingthe fantasy sports management application to suggest a starter for aroster of a mobile-device user. The processor is further configured toreceive roster information from one or more other users of the fantasysports management application. The processor is further configured todetermine substantially similar roster information by comparing theroster information from the one or more other users to the roster of themobile-device user. The processor is further configured to determine asuggestion for a starter for the roster of the mobile-device user usingat least the substantially similar roster information from the one ormore other users. The processor is further configured to send thesuggestion for the starter of the roster of the mobile-device user tothe mobile-device utilizing the wireless transceiver for output on themobile device.

A second illustrative embodiment generally discloses a fantasy sportsmanagement system in an external video output device comprising aprocessor in communication with one or more transceivers. The one ormore transceivers are configured to communicate sports-relatedinformation to a remote server that includes a fantasy sports managementapplication. The processor is configured to receive real-time sportsinformation including scores of real-time sporting events. The processoris further configured to output a video signal to an audio-video displaybased on a user-selected channel or input. The processor is furtherconfigured to receive channel information from a broadcast provider thatincludes a plurality of games airing on a plurality of respectivechannels. The processor is further configured to receive real-timefantasy sports information via the fantasy sports managementapplication. The processor is further configured to receive rosterinformation via the fantasy sports management application regarding oneor more users of the fantasy sports management application. The rosterinformation is based on a starting roster of the one or more users. Theprocessor is further configured to determine if a player on the startingroster is subject to a trigger-event occurring in the player's activityas indicated by the real-time fantasy sports information. The processoris further configured to output a notification providing the user withan option to change the user-selected channel to a channel in which thetrigger-event is on in response to the trigger-event and theuser-selected channel not showing the game that includes the player onthe starting roster that is subject to the trigger-event occurring.

A third illustrative embodiment generally discloses a fantasy sportsmanagement system in an external video output device. The fantasy sportsmanagement system comprising one or more wireless transceiversconfigured to communicate sports-related information from a remoteserver. The fantasy sports management system further comprises one ormore digital audio-video transceivers configured to communicate videosignals, audio signals, and consumer electronic control data to one ormore auxiliary devices. The fantasy sports management system furthercomprises one or more remote control transceivers configured tocommunicate input-output controls to and from a remote controller. Thefantasy sports management system further comprises one or moremicrophone inputs configured to receive voice controls from a user tocontrol the external video output device or an auxiliary device. Thefantasy sports management system further comprises one or more processorin communication with the one or more wireless transceivers, digitalaudio-video transceivers, and remote control transceivers. The processoris configured to receive real-time sports information that includesscores of real-time sporting events from the remote server. Theprocessor is further configured to receive input-output controls viawireless signals from a remote interface device. The processor isfurther configured to receive broadcast information from a broadcasterthat corresponds to the real-time sports information via the auxiliarydevice in communication with the external video output device via thedigital audio-video transceiver. The processor is further configured tooutput a video signal based on the broadcast information to anaudio-video display based on a user-selected channel via the digitalaudio-video transceiver. The processor is further configured to receivechannel information from the broadcaster that includes a plurality ofgames airing on a plurality of respective channels. The processor isfurther configured to receive real-time fantasy sports information fromthe remote server via the fantasy sports management application. Theprocessor is further configured to receive roster information from theremote server via the fantasy sports management application regardingone or more users of the fantasy sports management application. Theroster information is based on a starting roster of the one or moreuser. The processor is further configured to output a notificationproviding the user with an option to change the user-selected channel toa channel in which the trigger-event is on in response to thetrigger-event and the user-selected channel not showing the game thatincludes the player on the starting roster that is subject to thetrigger-event occurring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary block topology for fantasy sportsmanagement system;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary flow chart of an algorithm implementedby the fantasy sports management system relating to sending an alert toa fantasy sports manager based on weather for games being played byplayers on the manager's roster;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary flow chart of an algorithm implementedby the fantasy sports management system relating to sending an alert tothe manager based on a large scoring event;

FIG. 4A illustrates an exemplary block topology for the fantasy sportsmanagement system;

FIG. 4B illustrates an exemplary flow chart of an algorithm implementedby the fantasy sports management system relating to correlating theplayers on the manager's roster with the channels on which they areplaying, and implementing certain functions based on the correlation;

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary flow chart of an algorithm implementedby the fantasy sports management system relating to suggesting a starterbased on a comparison of two or more similar rosters;

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary flow chart of an algorithm implementedby the fantasy sports management system relating to advertising beingprovided to the user based on the team members on the user's rosterand/or based on a live game that the user is watching;

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary flow chart of an algorithm implementedby the fantasy sports management system relating to an automatic rosterselection;

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary flow chart of an algorithm implementedby the fantasy sports management system relating to storing an attemptedlineup change for proof of lineup change in the event of a loss of dataconnection; and

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary flow chart of an algorithm implementedby the fantasy sports management system relating to of a social mediareview based on one or more team member on the user's roster.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present disclosure aredisclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosedembodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure that may be embodiedin various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily toscale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details ofparticular components. Therefore, specific structural and functionaldetails disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, butmerely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art tovariously employ the present disclosure.

The disclosure now will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which illustrativeembodiments of the disclosure are shown. This disclosure, may however,be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed aslimited to the embodiments set forth herein. Like numbers refer toelements throughout. As used herein the term “and/or” includes any andall combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example block topology for a fantasy sportsmanagement system. An example of such a fantasy sports management systemmay include those offered by ESPN, NFL, YAHOO, etc. Although theembodiments relate to fantasy sports in general, the illustrativeembodiments herein described below will describe fantasy football forbrevity. It should be noted that the embodiments may extend to all typesof fantasy sports besides football, including but not limited to,baseball, basketball, hockey, golf, soccer, tennis, arena football,automobile racing, horse-racing, boxing, mixed-martial arts, track andfield, softball, Olympic sports, etc. The embodiments may also be usedin professional sports, semi-professional sports, collegiate sports,amateur sports, etc. It should therefore be understood that allreferences to “fantasy football” in this disclosure are intended toencompass all fantasy sports in general.

In fantasy sports, a user has a roster, typically set during a draftthat occurs prior to the beginning of the season. During the draft, eachuser in the fantasy sports league selects players to fill their roster.Once rosters for each of the users are set, the user can set a startinglineup by selecting a certain number of players from his roster to be astarter. The user can change his starting roster at different timesduring the seasons, usually weekly. When players on the user's startingroster make certain plays that affect their statistics (e.g., score atouchdown, gain yards, make a base hit, etc.), the user receives pointscorrespondingly. The players that are not on the user's starting rosterare “bench” players and their statistics do not translate into pointsfor the user until the bench player is converted to a “starter” andplaced on the starting lineup.

In the illustrative embodiment, a mobile device 101 may be loaded withan application 100 that is utilized for fantasy sports management. Themobile device may include a visual display to output any contents of theapplication. Outputs on the mobile device can include, but are notlimited to, a visual display and a speaker or stereo system output. Thespeaker is connected to an amplifier and receives its signal from aprocessor through a digital-to-analog converter.

The mobile device may be able to output data to a remote deviceutilizing a wireless transceiver. The data may include video data, audiodata, or any other form of data utilized for fantasy sports. Thus, themobile device may share certain functionality with an external device orvice versa. In one non-limiting example, the mobile device may be incommunication with a television 103 that does not include any long-rangewireless transceiver to communicate with an off-board network. Themobile device may pair with the television to share its functionality tocommunicate with an off-board server. Upon pairing with the mobiledevice, the television may be capable of retrieving external data fromvarious sources to utilize for different applications. The mobile devicemay pair with any external device to share data or functionality forcommunicating data.

The mobile device includes a processor is also provided with a number ofdifferent inputs allowing the user to interface with the processor. Inthis illustrative embodiment, a microphone, an auxiliary input (forinput), a USB input, a GPS input and a BLUETOOTH input are all provided.An input selector is also provided, to allow a user to select betweenvarious inputs. Input to both the microphone and the auxiliary connectoris converted from analog to digital by a converter before being passedto the processor.

Output may also be made to a remote BLUETOOTH device such as PND or aUSB device such as vehicle navigation device 60 along the bi-directionaldata streams shown at and respectively.

In one illustrative embodiment, the mobile device 101 uses a BLUETOOTHtransceiver to communicate with a different external device (e.g.,television, vehicle multimedia system cell phone, smart phone, PDA,computer tablet, computer, or any other device having wireless remotenetwork connectivity). The mobile device may then be used to communicatewith a network. In some embodiments, tower 113 may be a WiFi accesspoint. Although BLUETOOTH is utilized in the illustrative embodiment,other forms of wireless communication may be utilized, such as WiFi,WiMax, GSM, LTE, 3G, RFID (e.g. Internation Standard 1443), ZigBEE, etc.Wired communication may suffice as well, including USB, Serial,Firewire, etc.

Additionally, the mobile phone may directly communicate with a differentexternal device, or indirectly utilizing an intermediary device. Forexample, the mobile device may communicate with a television by sendinga signal to a server that is connected to the Internet / World Wide Web.That server may send a signal, representative of a request orinstruction or another form of data, to the television. Thus, thetelevision may respond to the signal from the server, essentially actingon the mobile device's communication.

Pairing of a mobile device and the BLUETOOTH transceiver can beinstructed through a button or similar input. Accordingly, the CPU isinstructed that the mobile phone's BLUETOOTH transceiver will be pairedwith a BLUETOOTH transceiver in another device.

In one illustrative embodiment, the mobile phone is provided with anoperating system including an API to communicate with modem applicationsoftware. The modem application software may access an embedded moduleor firmware on the BLUETOOTH transceiver to complete wirelesscommunication with a remote BLUETOOTH transceiver (such as that found ina nomadic device). BLUETOOTH is a subset of the IEEE 802 PAN (personalarea network) protocols. IEEE 802 LAN (local area network) protocolsinclude WiFi and have considerable cross-functionality with IEEE 802PAN. Both are suitable for wireless communication within a vehicle.Another communication means that can be used in this realm is free-spaceoptical communication (such as IrDA) and non-standardized consumer IRprotocols.

The mobile phone may be utilized to communicate with a television 103 orany other type of video output device, including but not limited to amonitor, projector, tablet, vehicle screen, another cellular phone ormobile device, etc. Although the illustrative embodiments hereindescribed below utilize a television, any video output device mentionedabove may be utilized. The television 103 may retrieve a video signaldirectly from an internal audio/video transceiver/processor (e.g., asfound in a “Smart TV”) or via an external audio/video transceiver (e.g.,within a cable box, a media player [e.g. APPLE TV, ROKU, AMAZON FIRE TV,etc.], satellite receiver, video game system [e.g., XBOX ONE,PLAYSTATION4], matrix receiver [e.g. HDMI, HDBaseT, Component], etc.).The audio/video transceiver may interact with the mobile device or evenreplace the nomadic device. Further, audio/video transceivers mayinteract with others. For example, a video game system may interact witha cable box, and thus interact with a television. The interaction mayinclude the exchange of data, applications, software, video signals,audio signals, etc. Additionally, although not mentioned specifically inthe illustrative embodiments described below, the audio/videotransceiver may operate with all of the functionality of the mobiledevice. The A/V transceiver 99 illustrated in the figures is intended toencompass one or more of these devices, which can communicate with oneanother via a wired or wireless connection and with other externaldevices (e.g., mobile devices, remote controls, tablets, etc.) toexchange the data, applications, software, A/V signals, etc. describedabove.

Different devices may communicate with each other utilizing an HDMIinterface or similar interface (including wireless, e.g., BLUETOOTH orRF). Each device may communicate utilizing Consumer Electronic Controldata. Consumer Electronic Control (CEC) is an HDMI feature that mayallow a user to command and control multiple CEC devices that areconnected through HDMI by using only one of remote device (e.g.controlling a TV, external media device, and video game console usingonly the remote control of the TV. CEC may also allow for individualCEC-enabled devices to command and control each other without userintervention. For example, if you power on the external media device,the other devices that may be in use, such as the television and videogame console, may turn on. Audio and video data, along with CEC data,may be transmitted over HDMI.

CEC is a one-wire bidirectional serial bus that is based on the CENELECstandard AV.link protocol to perform remote control functions. It wasdefined in HDMI Specification 1.0 and updated in HDMI 1.2, HDMI 1.2a andHDMI 1.3a (which added timer and audio commands to the bus). USB to CECadapters exist that allow a computer to control CEC-enabled devices.

Some names for CEC based products include are Anynet+ (Samsung), AquosLink (Sharp), BRAVIA Link and BRAVIA Sync (Sony), HDMI-CEC (Hitachi),VIERA Link (Panasonic), EasyLink (Philips), and NetCommand for HDMI(Mitsubishi).

Some examples of HDMI-CEC commands include:

-   -   One Touch Play (allows devices to switch the TV to use it as the        active source when playback starts)    -   System Standby (enables users to switch multiple devices to        standby mode with the press of one button)    -   Preset Transfer (transfers the tuner channel setup to another TV        set)    -   One Touch Record (allows users to record whatever is currently        being shown on the HDTV screen on a selected recording device)    -   Timer Programming (allows users to use the electronic program        guides (EPGs) built into HDTVs and set-top-boxes to program the        timer in recording devices like PVRs and DVRs)    -   System Information (checks all components for bus addresses and        configuration)    -   Deck Control (allows a component to interrogate and control the        operation (play, pause, rewind etc.), of a playback component        (Blu-ray or HD DVD player or a Camcorder, etc.)    -   Tuner Control (allows a component to control the tuner of        another component)    -   OSD Display (uses the OSD of the TV set to display text, e.g.        display fantasy football information on the TV)    -   Device Menu Control allows a component to control the menu        system of another component by passing through the user        interface (UI) commands)    -   Routing Control controls the switching of signal sources    -   Remote Control Pass Through allows remote control commands to be        passed through to other devices within the system    -   Device OSD Name Transfer transfers the preferred device names to        the TV set    -   System Audio Control allows the volume of an AV receiver,        integrated amplifier or preamplifier to be controlled using any        remote control from a suitably equipped device(s) in the system

The television may communicate with the mobile device utilizing awireless or wired transceiver. One example of a wireless communicationof data is BLUETOOTH. The mobile device may provide data from thefantasy application or other external sources to the television. Thus,the television may be able to mesh or integrate the data with the videooutput to provide a seamless user experience.

Additionally, the television and/or its transceiver/processor may alsocommunicate data (video, audio, or any other data) to the mobile device.Thus, the television and/or its transceiver/processor may be able tosend data related to the currently watched content to the mobile device.The mobile device may be able to utilize this televisions data forvarious applications. The television may include integrated circuitry tooperate as an alternative embodiment to the cellular phone.

The AV transceiver 99 may be in communication with a television networkutilizing antennas, mobile satellites 98, or other forms ofcommunication. The AV transceiver may retrieve live or recorded contentrelated to the fantasy sports.

Additionally, the television may be in communication with an inputdevice 115, such as a remote control. Other input devices may include astandard remote control, mobile phone, tablet, touch screen remote,voice recognition microphone, etc. The input device may allow a user tocontrol the television or the video output display. Additionally, theinput device may control other devices, such as an AV transceiver 99 orthe mobile phone. Additionally, the mobile phone may also havefunctionality to control the television or the AV transceiver.

The AV transceiver 99 may also retrieve data for usage with fantasysports applications. Certain content from the fantasy sportsapplications and the AV transceiver may be output via a television orthe video output device. Thus, AV transceiver may output a signal thatincludes video content and fantasy sports data. Additionally, the mobiledevice 102 may also output additional data or signals to the videooutput display.

In another embodiment, mobile device 101 includes a modem for voice bandor broadband data communication. In the data-over-voice embodiment, atechnique known as frequency division multiplexing may be implementedwhen the owner of the nomadic device can talk over the device while datais being transferred. At other times, when the owner is not using thedevice, the data transfer can use the whole bandwidth (300 Hz to 3.4kHzin one example). While frequency division multiplexing may be common foranalog cellular communication between the vehicle and the internet, andis still used, it has been largely replaced by hybrids of Code DomainMultiple Access (CDMA), Time Domain Multiple Access (TDMA), andSpace-Domain Multiple Access (SDMA) for digital cellular communication.These are all ITU IMT-2000 (3G) compliant standards and offer data ratesup to 2 mbs for stationary or walking users and 385 kbs for users in amoving vehicle. 3G standards are now being replaced by IMT-Advanced (4G)which offers 100 mbs for users in a vehicle and 1 gbs for stationaryusers. If the user has a data-plan associated with the nomadic device,it is possible that the data-plan allows for broad-band transmission andthe system could use a much wider bandwidth (speeding up data transfer).

In still another embodiment, the mobile device is replaced with acellular communication device (not shown) that is installed to avehicle. In yet another embodiment, the ND may be a wireless local areanetwork (LAN) device capable of communication over, for example (andwithout limitation), an 802.11g network (i.e., WiFi) or a WiMax network.

In one embodiment, incoming data can be passed through the nomadicdevice via a data-over-voice or data-plan, through the onboard BLUETOOTHtransceiver and into the vehicle's internal processor. In the case ofcertain temporary data, for example, the data can be stored on the HDDor other storage media until such time as the data is no longer needed.

Additional sources that may interface with the vehicle include apersonal navigation device having, for example, a USB connection and/oran antenna, a vehicle navigation device 60 having a USB or otherconnection, an onboard GPS device, or remote navigation system (notshown) having connectivity to network. USB is one of a class of serialnetworking protocols. IEEE 1394 (FireWire™ (Apple), i.LINK™ (Sony), andLynx™ (Texas Instruments)), EIA (Electronics Industry Association)serial protocols, IEEE 1284 (Centronics Port), S/PDIF (Sony/PhilipsDigital Interconnect Format) and USB-IF (USB Implementers Forum) formthe backbone of the device-device serial standards. Most of theprotocols can be implemented for either electrical or opticalcommunication.

Further, the CPU could be in communication with a variety of otherauxiliary devices. These devices can be connected through a wireless orwired connection. Auxiliary devices may include, but are not limited to,personal media players, wireless health devices, portable computers,nomadic device, key fob and the like.

Also, or alternatively, the CPU could be connected to a vehicle basedwireless router, using for example a WiFi (IEEE 803.11) transceiver.This could allow the CPU to connect to remote networks in range of thelocal router.

The mobile device may also be in communication with a vehicle 105. Thevehicle may include a BLUETOOTH transceiver, or another short-rangewireless transceiver, to communicate with the mobile phone. The vehicle105 may also include a vehicle multimedia system 107 to output data andvideo content. Although not shown, the vehicle multimedia system andother components may be in communication over a vehicle multiplexnetwork (such as, but not limited to, a CAN bus) to pass data to andfrom a vehicle computing system (VCS) or components thereof. The mobilephone may retrieve the data received from the vehicle bus forutilization with the fantasy application, or vice versa. Additionally,the vehicle multimedia system may include various other output devicesand input devices. Some examples of output may include displays of anRSE system, instrument cluster, multimedia display, speakers, etc. Inputmay include a touch screen, hard button, rotary switch, haptic device,etc.

In addition to having exemplary processes executed by a vehiclecomputing system located in a vehicle, in certain embodiments, theexemplary processes may be executed by a computing system incommunication with a vehicle computing system. Such a system mayinclude, but is not limited to, a wireless device (e.g., and withoutlimitation, a mobile phone) or a remote computing system (e.g., andwithout limitation, a server) connected through the wireless device.Collectively, such systems may be referred to as vehicle associatedcomputing systems (VACS). In certain embodiments, particular componentsof the VACS may perform particular portions of a process depending onthe particular implementation of the system. By way of example and notlimitation, if a process has a step of sending or receiving informationwith a paired wireless device, then it is likely that the wirelessdevice is not performing the process, since the wireless device wouldnot “send and receive” information with itself. One of ordinary skill inthe art will understand when it is inappropriate to apply a particularVAC to a given solution. In all solutions, it is contemplated that atleast the vehicle computing system (VCS) located within the vehicleitself is capable of performing the exemplary processes.

Various embodiments are provided below relating to an interactivefantasy sports management system. In each embodiment, various methods ofcommunication between and amongst a mobile device, a television or otheroutput display, a vehicle, an offsite database, etc. It should beunderstood that the modes of communication between and amongst each ofthese described devices and systems to transmit data can be implementedin each of the embodiments. In other words, each described mode of datatransmission can apply to any of the embodiments described below, andeach embodiment is not intended to be limited to the mode ofcommunication provided in the description relating to that particularembodiment.

FIG. 2 shows an illustrative embodiment for providing a roster alert tothe user or a roster change to the user's roster based on weatherconditions. The mobile device receives roster information regarding theuser's starting lineup and reserve (bench) players based on user input,as previously described. For instance, the mobile device can connect tothe internet and retrieve the fantasy roster of the user from an offsitedatabase provided by the fantasy football service provider. The mobiledevice also receives the time and day of each game played for eachrespective player on the user's roster. For example, a kickoff time of1:00 pm EST on Sunday, October 12^(th) may be received by the mobiledevice indicating the time and date in which a player on the user'sroster is scheduled to play in his/her game. The mobile device alsoreceives location information corresponding to the site of the game thatis scheduled to be played. For example, Cincinnati, Ohio may be receivedby the mobile device as the city in which Calvin Johnson and his team(Detroit Lions) are scheduled to play their upcoming game. The locationinformation received by the mobile device may include longitude/latitudecoordinates, city/state, zip code, street number and name, and the like.

The mobile device and/or the offsite fantasy football service providermay then retrieve weather information that corresponds to the receivedtime, date, and location of the scheduled game for each respectiveplayer on the user's roster. For example, the mobile device may utilizeits existing weather applications, processor(s), and transceivers tocommunicate with and receive weather data from offsite weather serviceproviders. In another example, the fantasy football service providersdetermine the weather conditions for each game site, time and day, andsend this information to the mobile device. The fantasy sportsapplication may include an application program interface (API) tocommunicate with weather applications, or any external applications, toutilize for roster management.

Once weather information is received or determined by the mobile device,the mobile device can indicate the time, day, location, andcorresponding predicted weather conditions for each of the players onthe user's roster. The CPU on the mobile device or within the fantasyfootball service provider can then make a determination as to whetherpoor weather conditions are predicted that necessitate an alert to theuser or an automatic roster change to the user's roster based on theweather conditions. Poor weather conditions can be indicated by aplethora of factors, including a chance of rain, snow, hail, high windspeeds, low temperature, etc.

If poor weather conditions are indeed predicted for at least one playeron the user's roster, a visual/audio weather notification can be outputby the mobile device to alert the users that one of the user's playerson the user's roster has a significant chance of playing in poor weatherconditions that may negatively affect his statistics for the upcominggame.

In one illustrative embodiment, the user receives a visual alert on hismobile device indicating that an 80% chance of rain showers areforecasted for 1:00 pm EST in Cincinnati, Ohio, corresponding to thetime and location that Calvin Johnson (on the user's roster) isscheduled to play. Based on that alert, the mobile device may providethe user with access to his roster so that the user can adjust his/herstarting lineup accordingly and, for example, replace Calvin Johnsonwith another player that is scheduled to play in better weatherconditions, as indicated by the mobile device according to methodspreviously described.

According to at least one embodiment, the mobile device and/or thefantasy football service provider can automatically replace a player inthe starting roster scheduled to play in poor weather conditions with aplayer in the reserve roster scheduled to play in better weatherconditions. This may automatically (for example, without user input orwith little user input) be accomplished if certain weather conditionsexceed a threshold. The thresholds may, for example, be an 80%probability of rain, snow, or other poor weather conditions explainedabove predicted for the location and game time of the player on theuser's starting roster. Based on the threshold for poor weatherconditions being met or exceeded, the mobile device and/or fantasyfootball service provider automatically replaces that starting playerwith another player from the user's reserve roster that is playing inweather conditions in which the threshold for poor weather is not met.

The mobile device and/or the fantasy football service provider can alsoallow the user to define the threshold, and also define which individualbench players can be eligible to replace the starting player in theevent of poor weather conditions.

Additionally, the mobile device and/or the fantasy football serviceprovider can combine the predicted weather conditions with the predictedscore for the players on the user's roster in order to determine anoptimal lineup. For example, if Calvin Johnson is predicted to score 12points, poor weather conditions may not cause Calvin Johnson to bereplaced by a player that is only predicted to score 2 points. However,if another player on the user's bench is predicted to score 10 points,the mobile device and/or the fantasy football service provider cansubstitute that player for Calvin Johnson if the poor weather thresholdis met for Calvin Johnson's game.

FIG. 3 is an illustrative embodiment of a flow chart for a “big play”alert. The television may be in communication with an external receiveror mobile device via a wired or wireless connection, or utilize anembodiment as disclosed in FIG. 1. The system may receive scoringinformation from an off-board server or bureau (e.g. ESPN, YAHOO, etc).The scoring may be received at different time intervals or every update.

The system may then analyze the recent score update from a specificplayer or team 303. The system may have different flags or parametersset to trigger a “big play alert.” Additionally, the system may allowthe user to specify when a big play alert has occurred. The alerts maybe triggered by various aspects, such as utilizing a specific pointincrease (e.g. a play that created more than 5 points), a specificlength of a pass, run, or a catch (e.g. 25 yard pass, run/catch ormore), specific type of field goal (50+ yards), defensive/special teamsplay (e.g. interception or fumble for a touchdown, kick-off or puntreturn for a touchdown). The system may also notify a user of a playthat allowed an opponent to take a lead. Of course, other sports mayutilize other significant plays (e.g. a batter hitting a grand slam, apitcher pitching a “perfect game”, etc.). Additionally, the alerts maybe specified by a specific team, player, or game occurring. For example,a user may battle against an opponent that has one starting playerremaining going into a Monday night game, with the user holding a smalllead over the opponent. The user may set an alert to receive updates forany time of specific points, or even total points accumulated for thatday, to notify the user of any points scored in the game. Thus, the usermay receive continuous active alerts, eliminating the need for the userto constantly and actively request for his fantasy team scores to besent to him and comparing them with the points scored by his opponent.

Upon the alert occurring, the system may alert the user's variousdevices that are linked to the fantasy system 309. For example, upon abig play occurring, an e-mail alert or SMS message may be sent to amobile device, television, external receiver or car. Thus, the devicewhich receives the alert may output the notification via differentoutput sources (e.g. speakers display, etc.). Furthermore, the alert mayinclude other data, such as a picture or video of the play. The alertmay be sent via various wireless or wired connections. In the situationwhen a score is updated and a big play alert has not occurred, thesystem may continue to analyze the scoring.

The system may also notify other devices of a big play alert to enableother various features. For example, upon a big play occurring, thesystem may notify a DVR to schedule a recording of that play for thespecific channel. In another embodiment, the system may communicate withthe fantasy server requesting data regarding the play. The server mayprovide audio, video, or picture data that represent the play occurring.The system may send data that the server provided to describe orillustrate the play to the user. For example, if Adrian Peterson runsfor a 90 yard touchdown, a video file, audio file, or picture may bestreamed or sent to any one of the user's devices. Also, text datadescribing the play may be sent (e.g. “Adrian Peterson ran for a 90 yardplay on a right sweep, breaking a tackle after running over CliffAvril.”).

A threshold may be set by the user or the system that defines what playsare considered “big plays” and worthy of sending the big play alert. Inone embodiment, the user or system can define a “big play” as any onescoring event that causes the user's total points to increase by 10points.

FIG. 4 illustrates one or more embodiment in which a recording systemsuch as a digital video recording (DVR) device, video-to-cloud storage,and the like is included. As will be described below by example, therecording system begins recording based upon factors other than time ofday, including, for example, the game and/or play status of a player onthe user's roster.

The mobile device is again shown in communication with the offsitefacility for sending and retrieving information relating to the user'sfantasy football roster. This enables the user to interact with andmanage his or her fantasy sports team while the output display displaysinformation related to the fantasy sports along with the actualgameplay, as previously described with reference to FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate one or more embodiments in which a recordingsystem such as a digital video recording (DVR) device, video-to-cloudstorage, and the like is included. As will be described below byexample, the recording system begins recording based upon the gameand/or play status of a player on the user's roster.

A recording system 401 is in communication with the receiver and/or theoutput display. The recording system may be a recording deviceintegrated with the receiver and housed within the same housing, or maybe external to the receiver and housed within its own housing. Therecording system may also be integral within the housing of the outputdisplay. The recording system may include its own transceiver orreceiver that receives information either directly or indirectly fromthe mobile device relating to the user's fantasy football roster.

Based upon the status, gameplay, or other triggering event that concernsa player on the user's roster, the recording system begins a recordingsession on a channel or input source (e.g., application such as an ESPNweb-based application that, when activated, airs content through theapplication) that is showing the player's team's game. For example, thefantasy sports software utilized by the mobile device will cause themobile device to send a signal that causes the recording system to beginrecording based on the triggering event. In one embodiment, thetriggering event occurs when a player on the user's fantasy footballteam enters the “red zone” (i.e., is within 20 yards of the goal line).The triggering event causes the recording system to record a channel onwhich the player's team is viewable. This can occur whether or not theoutput display is currently showing channel 202. This allows the user tobe provided with recording of gameplay of a channel that is notcurrently displaying while not interrupting the current game that isshown on the output display.

Once the recording system begins recording based upon the triggeringevent that concerns the player occurring, an alert or message may bedisplayed on the output display informing the user that the recordinghas begun. If the output display is displaying a different channel thanthe channel that is being recorded, the message displayed on the outputdisplay may provide the user with the option to change the channel toview the recorded channel, or remain on the current channel and storethe recording for future viewing. The message displayed to the user mayalso include information regarding the in-game event that defined thetriggering event that caused the recording.

The recording system will continue to record the game until a secondtriggering event occurs. Examples of the second triggering event includea threshold time expiring (e.g., 10 minutes), when the player's team isno longer in the red zone, when the team scores, when the team'sopponent obtains possession of the ball, when the (baseball) player isno longer batting, or when other such events occur. The relatively shortrecording times maintain the amount of data being saved to a minimum,and may be advantageous in situations where recording informationstorage volume is of importance.

In an example scenario, the user may be watching channel 202 on whichthe Patriots versus the Colts is being shown. The user may have CalvinJohnson on his roster, who plays for the Lions. The Lions game isavailable for viewing on channel 204. During the game, the Lions mayenter the red zone, or may be attempting to convert on a fourth down, orCalvin Johnson may make a long catch, or may be injured, or other suchtriggering event may occur. The user is unable to see the upcoming playsthat may affect Calvin Johnson's fantasy football score for the user'steam since the user is not watching channel 204. However, based upon thetriggering event, the recording system begins recording channel 204.Additionally, an alert may then be sent to the user's mobile device orto the output display that (i) alerts the user that recording has begunon channel 204 on which Calvin Johnson is playing, and/or (ii) providesthe user with an interactive option to change the channel and beginviewing the gameplay on channel 204. The recording ceases when the Lionsno longer have possession of the ball, when the Lions are out of the redzone, or other examples in which the second triggering event occursindicating the probability of Calvin Johnson scoring being reduced.

It should be understood that the above descriptions of “triggeringevents” are merely for exemplary purposes only. Other such events mayoccur that trigger the recording system to begin recording and/or sendan alert to the user via the output display. For example, if the userhas Devin Hester (who returns punts for the Chicago Bears) on hisroster, a triggering event that activates the recording device can bewhen a team playing against the Bears has a 4^(th) down and is likely topunt. If a user has Miguel Cabrera on his fantasy baseball roster, atriggering event that activates the recording device can be when MiguelCabrera comes to bat. Other triggering events are contemplated thatindicate an immediate and increased possibility of fantasy points beingscored by the player.

The triggering event can be determined by the mobile device, thereceiver, the output device or any other device that can obtainreal-time information regarding live football games, as well asinformation regarding the user's starting roster. The device can thencorrelate the user's starting roster with the channels that are airingthe games that include players from the starting roster, and can recordthose channels based off of the triggering events.

By using the system exemplified in FIG. 4A, the recording system canalso piece together the various recorded clips that affect the fantasyplayer for future viewing. For example, each time a triggering eventoccurs that causes a part of a game to be recorded because of activityof the player's team, that clip can be saved either in the recordingdevice itself or in an offsite database. At a later time, the user canuse the television service provider or the mobile device to send asignal that causes the recording system to play one or more of therecorded clips. This provides the user with the ability to view all ofthe clips of his fantasy player in a condensed, organized fashion.

Any or all of the recorded clips or segments can be viewable on thetelevision or on the mobile device. The recording system may cause oneor more of the recorded segments to be sent to an offsite database thatis accessible for viewing by the mobile device.

FIG. 4B shows an exemplary flow chart illustrating the operation of atleast one computing device, at least partially including a computingdevice within the recording system. At 403, the starting roster isdetermined in the manner described above. At 405, it is determined if atriggering event (described above) has occurred.

If a triggering event has occurred, the recording system will determineat 407 which channel is currently being displayed on the output display.At 409, if the player subject to the triggering event has a gamecurrently being displayed on the output display, the algorithm willreturn. Steps 407 and 409 may be optional in some systems; these stepswould inhibit a recording event on that channel if it is already beingcurrently viewed by the user.

Based on the triggering event, at 411 the recording system willdetermine which channel is showing the game in which the player subjectto the triggering event is being played. For example, if Calvin Johnsonis on the user's roster and the Detroit Lions are in the red zone, therecording system (or one of the devices in communication with therecording system) will determine which channel the Detroit Lions game isbeing currently aired on. Once the determination is made as to whatchannel is airing the game, the recording system begins a limitedrecording session on that channel at 413. The limited recording sessioncontinues until another event in the game occurs that reduces theprobability of that player scoring in the near future at 415. Suchexamples of these events include the player actually scoring, theplayer's team turning the ball over, the player's team exiting the redzone, the player's team scoring, or other such events.

Use of the triggering events (rather than recording the entire game)provides advantages regarding storage space of recording, for example.To further this goal, temporary recording may be provided that recordsan entire sequence of plays based on the triggering event (e.g., theentire time the Lions are in the red zone, or the entire at-bat ofMiguel Cabrera). Once the triggering event is no longer present (e.g.,the Lions turn the ball over, or Miguel Cabrera is no longer batting),the recording may cease. By communicating with the recording system andknowing that a temporary recording session began based on the triggeringevent, the mobile device can then determine if any points were awardedto a player on the user's roster during that recorded session. If so,the recording system can save only the play that resulted in points forthe user's roster, and discard the rest of the recording. Alternatively,the entire temporarily-recorded session can be recorded for laterviewing.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example flow diagram of the starting player rostersuggestion that may be implemented in certain embodiments. The flowchart may be implemented in the various embodiments disclosed in thespecification that process information, including but not limited to theserver or off-site facility, mobile phone, tablet, television, computer,video game system, digital video output device (e.g. cable box, dishreceiver, etc.), digital video recorder, vehicle, etc. The system mayoutput a user's current roster on a display screen of a processingdevice at 501. The user may be able to view the roster and be allowed tochange or edit their roster. Other information may be displayed, such asthe game date and time, weather, injury status, etc. The system may alsoshow the percentage of people starting the particular player.Additionally, stats and predicted points may be output as well.

The display screen may also allow the user to activate a setting thatallows a user to determine which player is optimal for starting. Thesystem may have a feature that predicts the optimal roster lineup.Additionally, the system may also allow for a “who do I start” featurethat may allow a user to select one or more players to compare withother users to determine who would be optimal to start based on theupcoming game of that player. The user may select the player or playersto determine who to start at 503. Rather than utilizing pure projectionsof points to determine who to start, the system may look to otherleagues within their fantasy sports server to see another player with asimilar roster or predicament. For example, if a user is debating todetermine which two running backs to start, and the user has a rosterthat includes Marshawn Lynch, C J Spiller, Reggie Bush, and FredJackson, the system will look to find a similar roster. The system mayalso look to see the type of roster setting (e.g. number ofquarterbacks, running backs, and wide receiver) of the similar roster.Additionally, the system may utilize the scoring system of the league asa factor to determine if the scoring situation may be similar to that ofthe user utilizing the “Who Do I Start” feature.

The system may also calculate and display all of the total rosters withall select players at 511. The system may allow a user to view theroster and matchup as well of the similar player. The system may protectcertain information of the user with similar rosters for anonymity.Additionally, the system may analyze to determine if a waiver wire orfree-agent pick (that is available) may be optimal to start. The systemmay analyze the available waiver wires or free agents to determine thatmost users would start the available player over the user's currentstarter.

The system may also calculate and display the percentage of startingopportunities for each individual player at 513. Thus, if a player mayhave had an opportunity to start 55% amongst all rosters, but started95% given the current roster of the user, the user would have insightinto determining what other users in the league do in similarsituations.

The system may then suggest a starter based on the percentage ofstarting opportunities for the player or players given the similarrosters or situations at 515.

After gathering information for all rosters that includes those players,a breakdown of percentages may be displayed to determine what otherusers involved in a similar situation may do. Alternatively, the systemmay also just show or recommend the positions that the user requestadvice for. The “Who Do I Start” feature may not only be used for thesame position, but also for a “flex” position that allows more than 1type of position to start. For example, the flex position may allow arunning back, tight end, or wide receiver to start. Thus upon activatingthe who do I start feature, the system may analyze similar rosters thathave the same running back, tight end, or wide receiver, to determinewho should start in the flex position. Additionally, the feature may beused to determine who to start based on a similar roster of all players.It should also be noted that the data analysis of finding similarrosters may not be limited to only one type of service, such as Yahoo,NFL, CBS, or ESPN, but could collectively utilize the various serviceprovider's data to determine the optimal starting player(s).

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment in which advertising is provided to theuser based specifically on the team members on the user's roster and/orbased on a live game that the user is watching. Advertisements can bevisual and/or audio based, and can be provided on either one or both ofthe mobile device or the output display. The advertisements can bebanner ads at the edge portions of the displays, pop-up windows, audiointerruptions in real-time football game audio, and the like.

As will be described, the advertising sent to the user can be based onvarious factors that include the user's roster. The advertisements can,for example, advertise sportswear (such as jerseys, hats, etc.) or othersports-related objects to be purchased by the user. If the advertisementis shown on the mobile device, the user can click on the advertisementand be directed to a web-based store in which the sports-related objectscan be purchased directly from a seller.

As previously described, the mobile device may be in wirelesscommunication with the output display. In one embodiment, thetransceiver in the mobile device determines who is on the user's fantasyfootball roster, and also receives information regarding what real-timefootball game is being shown based on what channel the output display iscurrently turned on to. In other embodiments, a GPS unit of the user'smobile device can determine a geographical area in which the user islocated, and communicate with the fantasy sports management applicationto push advertisements to the mobile device relating to the professionalsports team or a specific player that is located near the geographicalarea.

One embodiment of a method employed by the mobile device is provided inFIG. 6. Each of the steps of the method provide factors that can beutilized either in part or cumulatively in an algorithm to provide anadvertising company with efficient, user-specific and direct advertisingto the user based on the user's fantasy football roster.

At 601, the mobile device determines what game the user is watchingbased on what channel the output display is tuned to. The mobile devicewill then relate the active roster on the user's fantasy football rosterwith the game being watched. The mobile device can therefore determineif one of the active players on the user's roster is being shown on thegame at 603.

At 605, the mobile device can utilize its GPS capabilities to determinethe location of the mobile device, and thereby the user. This allowslocal advertisement to be given to the user (e.g., a sportswear storelocated within 10 miles from the user's location). Another factor indetermining effective advertising can be the mobile device determiningthe user's favorite team. This can be determined at 607 based on theuser's own designation of a favorite team to his fantasy footballservice provider, based on the user's location, etc. Another factor indetermining effective advertising is determining the top fantasy scorerson the user's fantasy roster at 609. For example, advertising can bespecifically tailored to advertise a jersey or other sportswear that hasone of the user's top scorer's name on the items. Yet another factor indetermining effective advertising is determining certain “key” playersof interest, such as, for example, a player on the user's roster that isplaying a Monday Night Football game, a nationally televised game, etc.

Based on the above-referenced exemplary factors, the mobile device candetermine what type of advertising to send to the user. For example, theuser may be watching a Minnesota Vikings game on the output display, andAdrian Peterson may currently be playing in the game on the outputdisplay. The mobile device may also determine that Adrian Peterson is onthe user's starting fantasy roster. Based on these two factors, alongwith the location of the user currently being in Minnesota, the mobiledevice can send a banner advertisement to the screen of the mobiledevice that advertises for a football jersey for Adrian Peterson. Bypressing the banner advertisement, the user may be directed to adesignated NFL shop where he can buy an official Adrian Peterson jersey.The output display may also display such an advertisement, or mayautomatically access and display a website in which the jersey may besold.

It should be understood that the above-referenced factors are merelyexemplary, and that the mobile device may output an advertisement basedon only some of these factors. However, in preferred embodiments, theadvertisement is at least based on the user's fantasy roster. In otherembodiments, the mobile device can send information containing the datadescribed above such that another external device can populate anadvertisement. In other embodiments, the mobile device can determineadvertisements based on the GPS or fantasy-team-specific data describedabove, populate data regarding an advertisement, and push theadvertisement to an external device in communication with the mobiledevice.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a flow chart of an automatic rosterselection. The system may receive the roster information of a user at701. The system may analyze the current starters and the available benchplayers on the roster, as well as any free agents or players on thewaiver wire. The processing of FIG. 7 may be accomplished at any of thedevices previously listed, including but not limited to, the television,cellular phone, off-board server, DVR, cable or satellite receiver,media player, computer, etc. Additionally, processing may be dividedbetween the numerous devices.

The system may receive the auto-mode setting from the user at 703. Theauto-mode feature may include various types of features, such as an“AUTO ROSTER ON” feature or a “VACATION MODE” setting that may help theuser to set line-ups when the user is not available to do so. Variousoptions may be provided. For example, the auto roster feature mayautomatically change the user's starting roster to optimize the currentweek's matchups, yet the vacation mode may be more fully featured toallow the benching of players that are injured and pick-up of optimalwaiver-wire picks. Other combination of features may be utilized in anyform. Additionally, the user may be able to customize each feature thancan be turned on or off for automatic adjustment. For example, somefeatures may include auto-lineup-setting, auto-dropping of an injuredplayer, automatic waiver wire pick-up, auto-dropping of a poor playerperformer, etc. Additionally, some embodiments may send a message to theuser before actually performing the automatic adjustment for eachfeature for approval by the user. In one example, the system may send amessage, e-mail, or notification that the system suggests dropping TitusYoung (WR) of the Detroit Lions. In another example, the system maynotify the user to add Joique Bell (RB) to their roster in place ofTitus Young due to, for example, a favorable matchup against a poorrushing defense. Upon confirmation or a cancellation of the user, thesystem may either perform or ignore the system's suggestion.

The system may also determine if the user activated an automatic rostersetting feature at 705. The system may evaluate each and every autosetting feature, such as but not limited to auto-setting, auto-droppingof an injured player, automatic waiver wire pick-up, auto-dropping of apoor player performer, etc. If the system determines that no setting isactivated, the system will ignore the auto-setting feature at 707 andutilize the user's manual input. Upon the system determining that thesetting is activated, the system will utilize each feature to optimizethe user's roster.

An analysis of the starters versus the bench players at 709 may beutilized for certain features. For example, activation of the autodropping of an injured player or auto-roster feature may activate thisfeature. In one example, if a player is deemed to be on an injuredreserve list, the system may drop the player and evaluate the benchplayers to start. In another embodiment, the system may analyze whetherthe player's bench roster may include optimal players. To determine ifthe bench roster includes the optimal roster, the system may evaluatethe bench players projected points for the week, analyze the matchup ofthe player, the weather matchup, and/or analyze the roster of otherusers in the league to determine optimal starters utilizing theillustrative embodiments disclosed with respect to FIG. 5 above.Additionally, the other embodiments disclosed throughout thespecification may be utilized to determine the optimal starter. If thesystem determines that a specified percentage of other users that have aparticular player that is on the user's roster, and the other users arestarting that particular player, the auto-lineup may automatically startthe player for the user. For example, if the system determines thatother user's rosters in other fantasy leagues start a player that isbenched on the user's current roster, the system may automaticallyconvert the player on the user's roster from being benched to starting.Additionally, a user may customize a threshold percentage of when thesystem may select the player to convert from benched to start. Forexample, the user can customize the system such that it starts a benchplayer that is starting in more than 75% of other user's roster. In someembodiments, the system can compare two or more players on the rosterthat are shared by other users of other fantasy leagues. By comparingtwo or more identical players on different rosters, the system candetermine that two rosters are generally similar. If another user'sroster is generally similar to the user's roster, the system canautomatically change the user's roster (or provide a notification) suchthat the user's roster is more aligned with the generally similar otheruser's roster. For example, if the user has four particular players thatare all found in 5000 other user's rosters in other fantasy leagues, thesystem can determine the percentage of those generally similar rostersthat are starting one of the four particular players, and if thatparticular player is not on the user's starting lineup, the system cannotify or automatically change the user's roster to align with themajority of the 5000 other user's roster that indeed have thatparticular player starting.

An analysis of the starters versus the waiver at 711 may also beincluded. For example, the system may determine that a player availableon waiver wires or free agency may be a better starter than the user'scurrent player. For example, if a player on waiver wires or free agencyis starting more often on other user's rosters than a current player,the system may suggest the waiver wire. Additionally, the system mayanalyze that the projected points for the waiver wire or free agentpick-up is also optimal. Additionally, other factors disclosed throughthe specification may be used to determine whether the waiver wire/freeagent pick is optimal, such as but not limited, to the match-up,weather, etc.

Upon determining the optimal roster line-up or suggestion, the systemmay send the projected line-up to the user at 713. The system maydisplay the optimal roster to the user and ask for confirmation incertain embodiments. However, the auto-line up feature also will simplyset the user roster without any human intervention for certainembodiments. The system may include a setting to ask for confirmation toset the roster or to simply automatically set the roster. In anembodiment where the system requires user confirmation, the system willdisplay a message requesting to accept or decline the systems proposedroster changes at 715. If the user declines, the system may not acceptthe settings and simply keep the user's original roster setup at 717.However, if the system accepts the proposed roster changes, the systemwill automatically adjust the lineup based on the changes.

FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment of the present disclosure in which anattempt to change a roster is saved when the mobile device is notcapable of transmitting data. For example, a user may want to change hisfantasy roster or starting lineup before a predetermined deadline forthe scheduled matchup for that week. If the user misses the deadline dueto poor service by his mobile device, the user may be prevented fromsubsequently adjusting his roster or lineup. The embodiment illustratedin FIG. 8 allows the user to make the roster or lineup changes while ina poor data reception area, and automatically save the updated roster orlineup to allow for a subsequent lineup or roster change after thepredetermined deadline has passed.

At 801, the mobile device receives an input from the user indicating anattempt by the user to change his starting lineup on his fantasyfootball roster. This attempt may take place prior to a predetermineddeadline for making such lineup changes. The predetermined lineup changedeadline may be, for example, a time in which the first game of the weekstarts, or a time in which an individual game starts in which a playeron the user's starting roster is scheduled to play.

At 803, the mobile device attempts to connect to the network anddatabase according to methods previously described. If there is asufficient data connection, the roster change is made according to theuser's attempted and desired roster change at 805. However, if it isdetermined that no data connection is available that is sufficientenough to translate the user's desire to change the starting roster intoan actual change in the user's starting roster, the method proceeds to807.

At 807, several optional procedures are available that can save orrecord the user's attempted roster change that can allow the user toprove his attempt at a roster change before the deadline, or to enablethe fantasy football service provider to make the subsequent rosterchange even after the predetermined deadline has passed. Data may besaved on the mobile device that indicates the attempt by the user tochange his starting roster. This data may be embedded within theapplication on the mobile device for later retrieval when the mobiledevice obtains a sufficient data connection. A data may also include acomposing of a text message, email, social media posting, or other formof communication that may be automatically composed and time-stamped toindicate the user's attempt to change the roster before thepredetermined deadline. The mobile device may also automatically take ascreen shot of the attempt to change the lineup and timestamp thepicture, evidencing the attempt by the user to change his lineup beforethe expiration of the predetermined deadline. Other embodiments arecontemplated in which data or information is saved on the mobile devicefor evidence of an attempt to change the roster; these embodimentsshould be understood to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

Once the data is saved on the mobile device, the mobile devicecontinuously checks for a data connection through the network to thefantasy football service provider at 809. Once a sufficient dataconnection is made at 811, various actions may be taken. The rosterchange may automatically be implemented on the user's roster, even ifthe predetermined deadline has lapsed. This may be enabled by theapplication on the mobile device (or the fantasy football serviceprovider's servers in general) extracting the saved data from the mobiledevice that indicates the attempted roster change. A rule may be writteninto the fantasy football service provider rules such that certainroster changes may be made after the deadline only upon receiving dataof an attempt to change a roster prior to the expiration of the deadlinewhile the user has an insufficient data connection. Thus, based on thesaved data on the mobile device, the user's roster is automaticallychanged after the deadline by either the application on the mobiledevice, any device in communication with the mobile device, or thefantasy football service provider. Alternatively, the saved data may besent manually or automatically (based on establishing a sufficient dataconnection) to a member of the league (e.g., the commissioner) thatevidences the attempt to make a lineup change. The commissioner can thendecide to implement the attempted roster change and manuallyretroactively change the user's roster after the deadline has lapsed.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example flow diagram of a social media reviewbased on one or more team member on the user's roster. The social mediareview may allow the user to determine if personal events are takingplace in a player's life that may affect their performance on game day.The social media information may be used so that the user may makechanges to their roster based on this information. In at least oneembodiment, the social media review may provide up-to-date informationregarding a play made during a game that may include one or more teammembers on the user's roster. The method may be implemented usingsoftware code contained within one or more controllers. In otherembodiments, the method may be implemented in other controllers executedon a mobile device, or distributed amongst multiple controllerscommunicating in a network.

The method of monitoring one or more social media feeds whilecommunicating with fantasy sports management application may beimplemented through a computer algorithm, machine executable code, orsoftware instructions programmed into a suitable programmable logicdevice(s) of the mobile phone, personal computer, laptop, and/or tablet.Although the various operations shown in the flowchart diagram appear tooccur in a chronological sequence, at least some of the operations mayoccur in a different order, and some operations may be performedconcurrently or not at all.

In operation 901, the fantasy sports management application may receivea fantasy roster based on the one or more fantasy players selected onyour fantasy sports team. The fantasy sports management application maycommunicate with one or more social media accounts to search oninformation based on one or more fantasy players.

In operation 903, the fantasy sports management application may monitorsocial media accounts including, but not limited to, TWITTER, FACEBOOK,INSTAGRAM, and/or other social media accounts. The fantasy sportsmanagement application may determine if any of your fantasy players arementioned at the one or more social media sites in operation 905.

For example, the fantasy sports management application may monitorTWITTER by searching key words in hashtags and/or account holder names.The fantasy sports management application may determine if an event hasoccurred to the one or more fantasy players on the manager's rosterbased on social media information as shown in operation 907. In oneexample, if the account holder's social media name is referred to anumber of times exceeding a threshold (e.g., 100 times) within a certaintime threshold, it may be determined that an event occurred relating tothe player. The event occurred relating to the player may include, butis not limited to, an injury or other event that may affect his abilityto play. In a particular example, if Calvin Johnson's TWITTER account(@Bigplaycj) is referred to 101 times (e.g., by re-tweeting informationwith his name associated in the tweet) during a certain time threshold(e.g., within a half hour before the game starts), this may indicatethat an event has occurred relating to Calvin Johnson and his ability toplay. An alert can then be sent to the manager (i.e., user) of theroster associated with Calvin Johnson. An alert can also be sent to themanager of the roster giving the user the option to change his startingroster such that Calvin Johnson is moved from a bench player to astarter (or vice versa).

In addition to or in combination with this number-of-times-mentionedthreshold, the time threshold may be present that, if exceeded, causesthe alert to be sent to the manager. In one example, if Calvin Johnson'sTWITTER account is referred to 101 times within a 30-minute window, thealert may be sent to the user of the fantasy sports managementapplication. In another embodiment, if the social media monitoringindicates that the player's social media account has been referenced oneor more times within a time window or a time threshold (e.g., within 2hours before the beginning of the game), the alert may be sent to theuser. Other embodiments are contemplated in which the social media ismonitored, references to the players on the user's roster are correlatedto the user's roster, and alerts may be sent to the user based on apositive correlation.

In operation 909, the fantasy sports management application maydetermine if the messages related to the one or more team members is astarter or bench player on the user's roster. For example, a player maybe mentioned in a news article posted on a FACEBOOK feed, and thefantasy sports management application may determine if this player is astarter on your roster to inform you of this information. The fantasysports management application may output a message to you such that itprovides up-to-date information about the one or more team members onyour fantasy team in operation 911.

In another example, the fantasy sport management application may includeone or more configuration tables to define the one or more team membersocial media names. The fantasy sports management application mayreceive the user's social media account information to monitor the oneor more team members on the user's roaster. The fantasy sportsmanagement application may notify the user that a team member is beingmentioned in social media site. The fantasy sports managementapplication may generate and transmit a message to the user notifyingthe user of the social media information. The message may include, butis not limited to, a team member, what was mentioned, and a link to viewthe social media information.

In another embodiment, the system may analyze the player's name in acombination with another keyword a certain amount of times. Certainkeywords may trigger a request to alert users of the players name andkeyword being mentioned. The alert may include actual feedback of asocial media status update (e.g. tweet, FACEBOOK status update, etc.)from a social media account. For example, the system may be configuredto include a determination of how many times a player's name is combinedwith the word “INJURY” or “HURT” to predict an injury to a player. Inanother instance, other keywords can be used to determine an impact to aplayer (e.g. “DIVORCE,” “DEATH,” “ACCIDENT,” “ARRESTED,” “DRUGS,”“STEROIDS,” “PED,” “MISTRESS,” “EXTORTION,” “COMBINE,” etc.). Thus, anyoff-field issues can be identified to inform fantasy owners or potentialowners of the players. In certain circumstances, the system may includea flag to indicate a verified or reliable social media account (e.g.ESPN, Local News, specific sports broadcasters, etc.). Thus, theverified social media account can output one of the actual statusupdates regarding the player to show the user what exactly is beingbroadcast about the player. Further, the flag for a reliable orverifiable source may facilitate the system to have confidence that theoutputted status update is reliable.

While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended thatthese embodiments describe all possible forms encompassed by the claims.The words used in the specification are words of description rather thanlimitation, and it is understood that various changes can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Aspreviously described, the features of various embodiments can becombined to form further embodiments of the disclosure that may not beexplicitly described or illustrated. While various embodiments couldhave been described as providing advantages or being preferred overother embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one ormore desired characteristics, those of ordinary skill in the artrecognize that one or more features or characteristics can becompromised to achieve desired overall system attributes, which dependon the specific application and implementation. These attributes caninclude, but are not limited to cost, strength, durability, life cyclecost, marketability, appearance, packaging, size, serviceability,weight, manufacturability, ease of assembly, etc. As such, embodimentsdescribed as less desirable than other embodiments or prior artimplementations with respect to one or more characteristics are notoutside the scope of the disclosure and can be desirable for particularapplications.

The processes, methods, or algorithms disclosed herein can bedeliverable to/implemented by a processing device, controller, orcomputer, which can include any existing programmable electronic controlunit or dedicated electronic control unit. Similarly, the processes,methods, or algorithms can be stored as data and instructions executableby a controller or computer in many forms including, but not limited to,information permanently stored on non-writable storage media such as ROMdevices and information alterably stored on writeable storage media suchas floppy disks, magnetic tapes, CDs, RAM devices, and other magneticand optical media. The processes, methods, or algorithms can also beimplemented in a software executable object. Alternatively, theprocesses, methods, or algorithms can be embodied in whole or in partusing suitable hardware components, such as Application SpecificIntegrated Circuits (ASICs), Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs),state machines, controllers or other hardware components or devices, ora combination of hardware, software and firmware components.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fantasy sports management system on a server,comprising: a wireless transceiver configured to communicatesports-related information to a mobile device that includes a fantasysports management application; and a processor in communication with thewireless transceiver configured to: receive real-time sports informationrelated to the fantasy sports management application on the mobiledevice; receive input requesting the fantasy sports managementapplication to suggest a starter for a roster of a mobile-device user;receive roster information from one or more other users of the fantasysports management application; determine substantially similar rosterinformation by comparing the roster information from the one or moreother users to the roster of the mobile-device user; determine asuggestion for a starter for the roster of the mobile-device user usingat least the substantially similar roster information from the one ormore other users; and send the suggestion for the starter of the rosterof the mobile-device user to the mobile-device utilizing the wirelesstransceiver for output on the mobile device.
 2. The fantasy sportsmanagement system on a server of claim 1, wherein the roster informationis received by the processor from two or more fantasy sports managementapplications.
 3. The fantasy sports management system on a server ofclaim 2, wherein the two or more fantasy sports management applicationsare least YAHOO.COM, ESPN.COM, CBSSPORTS.COM, or NFL.COM.
 4. The fantasysports management system on a server of claim 1, wherein comparing theroster information includes comparing at least a roster position,scoring system, or roster setting that are similar between the one ormore other users to the mobile-device user.
 5. The fantasy sportsmanagement system on a server of claim 1, where the suggestion for astarter includes a pop-up notification, SMS notification, or e-mailnotification.
 6. The fantasy sports management system on a server ofclaim 5, wherein the pop-up notification, SMS notification, or emailnotification is displayed on a mobile device or television.
 7. A fantasysports management system in an external video output device, comprising:one or more transceiver configured to communicate sports-relatedinformation to a remote server that includes a fantasy sports managementapplication; and one or more processor in communication with thetransceiver and configured to: receive real-time sports informationincluding scores of real-time sporting events; output a video signal toan audio-video display based on a user-selected channel or contentsource; receive information relating to the channel or content sourcefrom a broadcast provider that includes a plurality of games airing on aplurality of respective channels or content sources; receive real-timefantasy sports information via the fantasy sports managementapplication; receive roster information via the fantasy sportsmanagement application regarding one or more users of the fantasy sportsmanagement application, wherein the roster information is based on astarting roster of the one or more users; determine if a player on thestarting roster is subject to a trigger event occurring in the player'sactivity as indicated by the real-time fantasy sports information; andin response to the trigger-event and the user-selected channel or inputsource not showing the game that includes the player on the startingroster that is subject to the trigger-event occurring, output anotification providing the user with an option to change theuser-selected channel or input source to a channel or input source inwhich the trigger-event is on.
 8. The fantasy sports management systemof claim 7, wherein the trigger event includes one or more of atouchdown pass, rushing touchdown, receiving touchdown, defensivetouchdown, special-teams touchdown, or big-play gain.
 9. The fantasysports management system of claim 8, wherein the big-play gain includesa rush of more than 20 yards, a reception of more than 20 yards, or apass of more than 25 yards.
 10. The fantasy sports management system ofclaim 7, wherein the trigger event includes a threshold score related tothe fantasy sports management application.
 11. The fantasy sportsmanagement system of claim 7, wherein the one or more processor isfurther configured to begin a recording event of the trigger-event on adigital video recorder for the channel in which the trigger-event is on.12. The fantasy sports management system of claim 7, wherein theexternal video output device is a video-game system, cable-box, orstreaming digital video player.
 13. The fantasy sports management systemof claim 7, wherein the one or more processor is further configured toreceive additional fantasy sports management information from a cellulartelephone via a wireless transceiver.
 14. The fantasy sports managementsystem of claim 13, wherein the cellular telephone includes a cellularprocessor configured to: send real-time sports information includingscores of real-time sporting events to the external video output device;send real-time fantasy sports information via the fantasy sportsmanagement application to the external video output device; and sendroster information via the fantasy sports management application to theexternal video output device regarding one or more users of the fantasysports management application, wherein the roster information is basedon a starting roster of the one or more user.
 15. The fantasy sportsmanagement system of claim 7, wherein the one or more processor is on acellular telephone.
 16. A computer-implemented method for monitoringfantasy sport players using social media networks, the methodcomprising: receiving information relating to a fantasy team sportroster, via a computer, wherein the fantasy team sports roster includesone or more players; correlating the one or more players with arespective social media feed identifier that identifies each of the oneor more players within a social media feed; monitoring the social mediafeed; and if the social media feed identifier of the one or more playersis referred to in the social media feed, outputting a notificationmessage.
 17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein thesocial media feed identifier is a unique name designated to enable auser to follow the one or more players on the social media feed of asocial media site.
 18. The computer-implemented method of claim 16,wherein the monitoring the social media feed is accomplished within apredefined time frame.
 19. The computer-implemented method of claim 16,wherein the outputting the notification message is based on the socialmedia feed identifier of the one or more players being referred to inthe social media feed an amount of times exceeding a predeterminedthreshold.
 20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein theoutputting the notification message is based on the social media feedidentifier of the one or more players being referred to in the socialmedia feed an amount of times exceeding a predetermined threshold withina predefined time frame.